The Control of Color in Mammals

SYNOPSIS. Recent advances in the biology of mammalian pigmentationare reviewed.Particular attention is given to emerging informationon the integration of pigmentary events occurring at differentlevels of biological organization within mammalian skin andhair. The structural and functional significance of keratinocytesand melanocytes as components of mammalian epidermal melaninunits is viewed from this perspective. New evidence on the natureof genetic, developmental, endocrine, and radiation influenceson performance of melanocytes and the establishment of pigmentarypatterns is summarized.